Need suggestions for summer trip on the Maine Coast
Feb 20th, 2001, 10:26 AM
#1
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Need suggestions for summer trip on the Maine Coast
My family and I (my wife and two daughters, ages 11 and 8) will be vacationing in Maine this August. We will be picking up our 11 year old from camp, just inland from the Belfast/Camden area, and then have 2 1/2 days before we are due to arrive for a week at a resort on Lake Kezar (near the New Hampshire border). We are thinking about spending that time along the coast. Some current ideas include Bar Harbor/Mt. Desert Island or one of the seaside resorts just outside of Portland. Some of the places I've checked into are the Bar Harbor Inn, Asticou, the Inn by the Sea and Black Point Inn. Does anyone know anything about these places, or have any suggestions for other locales or accomodations along the Maine coast?
Feb 20th, 2001, 11:36 AM
#2
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Neil,
I suggest going to York Beach. There are 2 sections to York Beach (Long Sands and Short Sands). Long sands is the really long beach and is a wonderful place to spend a summer day. Short Sands as you can probably guess is a smaller beach nearer to all the shops. I'd suggest going to the Goldenrod where you can see them make real saltwater taffy and it is delicious. If you are an ice cream fan then Browns Old Fashioned Ice Cream is a must. I spent every summer there growing up and viseted often when I was still living in NH. Now that I live in Arizona I realize what a great place it was to visit in the summer. Hope you and your family have a terrific time wherever you end up going.
I suggest going to York Beach. There are 2 sections to York Beach (Long Sands and Short Sands). Long sands is the really long beach and is a wonderful place to spend a summer day. Short Sands as you can probably guess is a smaller beach nearer to all the shops. I'd suggest going to the Goldenrod where you can see them make real saltwater taffy and it is delicious. If you are an ice cream fan then Browns Old Fashioned Ice Cream is a must. I spent every summer there growing up and viseted often when I was still living in NH. Now that I live in Arizona I realize what a great place it was to visit in the summer. Hope you and your family have a terrific time wherever you end up going.
Feb 21st, 2001, 04:02 PM
#4
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I have to agree with Liz. I think that you'll enjoy Bar Harbor/Mt. Desert immensely. It's absolutely breathtaking. I've lived in Portland for 14 years and go to Bar Harbor just about every year. The Bar Harbor Inn is very nice -- right on the water, pool, etc. It's an older inn with a newer "motor inn" option as well. I've stayed in both. It's also right in town so parking at the Inn is a plus. August will be EXTREMELY crowded and driving around town will be wicked.
Asticou is also gorgious but about 20 minutes outside of Bar Harbor, which has it's pluses as well. It's quieter and equally nice.
Another place to look into is the Blue Nose Inn ... owned by the Bar Harbor Inn folks and I think the best of the 3, although the location is not downtown, rather a little under a mile from town -- still walkable.
Make sure you do the Acadia Park Loop Road; stop at sand beach (good place to picnic lunch); hike the Bee Hive if you're not afraid of heights; go to the Jordan Pond House for afternoon tea (popovers, strawberry jam and lemonade right by the water), Thunder Hole (try and get there as the tide is changing from High Tide to Low tide (check the local papers for times) and also walk along Otter Point.
I assure you that it will be a more breathtaking visit than York Beach, which is a good option if you want a real "beach" experience, rather than a "natural wonders" experience.
Let me know if you want any other info.
Asticou is also gorgious but about 20 minutes outside of Bar Harbor, which has it's pluses as well. It's quieter and equally nice.
Another place to look into is the Blue Nose Inn ... owned by the Bar Harbor Inn folks and I think the best of the 3, although the location is not downtown, rather a little under a mile from town -- still walkable.
Make sure you do the Acadia Park Loop Road; stop at sand beach (good place to picnic lunch); hike the Bee Hive if you're not afraid of heights; go to the Jordan Pond House for afternoon tea (popovers, strawberry jam and lemonade right by the water), Thunder Hole (try and get there as the tide is changing from High Tide to Low tide (check the local papers for times) and also walk along Otter Point.
I assure you that it will be a more breathtaking visit than York Beach, which is a good option if you want a real "beach" experience, rather than a "natural wonders" experience.
Let me know if you want any other info.
Feb 22nd, 2001, 10:28 AM
#5
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Neil: we have stayed at both the Black Point Inn and the Inn by the Sea; they are outstanding in every way and are close to Portland, which is a wonderful small city to explore (the Old Port and the art museum are not to miss). I'm sure they have activities for your kids in addition to wonderful beaches, tennis, etc. Also, Winslow Homer's studio is on the Black Point property.
